Cardamom Bread

4.50 (8)
⏱ 185 mins 🍽 ['10', '1 loaf'] 🌶 scandinavian 🏷 Snack

This Scandinavian cardamom bread is a spiced and enriched loaf, perfect for the holidays. The dough is infused with cardamom and cinnamon, then filled with raisins and chopped walnuts. After proving, it is decorated with sliced almonds and pearl sugar before baking to a golden finish. The result is a beautifully shaped, fragrant bread that makes a delightful snack. It yields one large loaf, serving about 10 people.

Cardamom Bread

Ingredients

  • 1 cup warm whole milk (110 degrees F (43 degrees C))
  • 0.5 cup white sugar
  • 0.33333334326744 cup warm water (110 degrees F (43 degrees C))
  • 2 tablespoons melted butter
  • 1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast
  • 3.5 cups all-purpose flour, or as needed
  • 3 tablespoons ground cinnamon
  • 1.5 tablespoons ground cardamom
  • 0.5 cup melted butter
  • 0.5 cup raisins
  • 0.5 cup chopped walnuts
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tablespoon water
  • 0.5 cup sliced almonds
  • 0.25 cup pearl sugar

Method

  1. In a large bowl, combine the warm milk, 1/2 cup sugar, warm water, and 2 tablespoons melted butter, whisking until the sugar dissolves. Scatter the yeast over the surface and leave it for 5 minutes.
  2. Once the yeast mixture is foamy, mix in the flour, adding more if required to create a firm dough. Knead the dough on a floured surface until it is smooth and elastic, about 8 minutes. Transfer it to an oiled bowl, cover, and leave in a warm spot to double in size, about 1 hour.
  3. Prepare the spiced sugar by mixing the remaining 1/2 cup sugar with the cinnamon and cardamom in a small dish. Set this mixture aside.
  4. Punch down the dough and roll it out on a floured surface into a 9x13-inch rectangle. Brush the surface with 1/2 cup melted butter. Evenly scatter the cardamom-sugar mixture, raisins, and walnuts over the butter. Roll up tightly into a log, seal the seam, and place it on a baking sheet lined with parchment. Cover and let it rise again until doubled, about 1 hour.
  5. Heat your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
  6. Use a sharp knife to cut V-shaped scores along the top length of the loaf, without letting them meet in the centre. This optional step creates a braided look.
  7. Whisk the egg with 1 tablespoon water in a small bowl until smooth. Brush this glaze over the loaf, then sprinkle with the sliced almonds and pearl sugar.
  8. Place in the oven and bake until the bread is golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped underneath, 30 to 35 minutes. Allow it to cool fully on a wire rack before you slice it.

Nutrition (per serving)

Calories480 kcal
Fat20 g
Sugars27 g
Protein9 g
Sodium101 mg

Recipe details

CategorySnack
Cuisinescandinavian
AuthorBethany Behrle